RETURN

Returns the specified value(s) from a result set procedure, a function or a method.

Usage

Procedural.

Description

The RETURN statement is used in a function or method to return the single value of the function.

The SQL statements in the body of the function or method are executed until a RETURN statement is executed. If the end of the function or method is encountered (because no RETURN statement has been executed) an exception is raised.

The RETURN statement is used in a result set procedure to return the value(s) of a row of the result set to the calling cursor when FETCH is executed for it.

When a FETCH is executed for a cursor calling a result set procedure, the SQL statements in the body of the result set procedure are executed until a RETURN statement is executed, then execution within the result set procedure is suspended until the next FETCH.

Note: An array FETCH will cause more than one RETURN statement to be executed, so there is not necessarily a 1:1 correspondence between the number of FETCH statements executed and the number of RETURN statements executed.

If, following a FETCH, the end of the result set procedure is encountered instead of a RETURN statement, the NOT FOUND exception is raised to indicate the end of the result set.